Shopify loans

E-commerce is big business. In 2021, online traders generated $870 billion in revenues and accounted for 37% of all retail sales.

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One of the largest online platforms is Shopify, an e-commerce provider that hosts online stores for more than 150,000 US manufacturers, retailers, artists, and charities. As e-commerce continues to expand, online businesses must naturally get bigger, but this can pose a problem for Shopify merchants who lack the funds to fuel growth. Fortunately, there’s a solution –  e-commerce loans can give traders the cash they need to cover costs and expand their sales footprint. Read on to find out more about e-commerce loans from Shopify and a host of other lenders.

What is a Shopify loan?

Shopify loans provide financial support for Shopify member businesses. The platform offers two short-term loan products: Shopify capital loans, and Shopify merchant cash advances. US businesses may choose from either product, but for US businesses, merchant cash advances are the only option. Note that Shopify merchants cannot apply for a capital loan or a merchant cash advance unless they receive an invitation from Shopify to do so. 

Let’s look at the way Shopify loans work:

Shopify loan structure

Shopify determines available credit, fees, and interest rates on a case-by-case basis. The borrowed sum, fees, interest rate, and daily repayment rate are governed by the scale of merchant’s sales on Shopify and their risk profile. Generally speaking, the higher their sales on Shopify are, and the lower their risk profile is, the more merchants can borrow and the cheaper their costs will be.

Shopify capital merchant cash advance (UK and US businesses)

In the UK and the US, Shopify offers merchant cash advances. (Also called a Shopify payments loan advance). 

A Shopify merchant cash advance is a lump sum that merchants borrow in return for a fixed fee. To pay back the loan, Merchant’s send Shopify a percentage of their daily sales until the lump sum and the fixed fee are repaid. The lump sum that merchant’s may borrow and the amount they repay each day is determined by the scale of their sales on Shopify and their risk profile. 

Shopify capital loan (US businesses only)

Shopify capital loans provide a lump sum to the merchant in return for a fixed borrowing cost. The loan amount plus the fixed borrowing cost is called the total owed. The loan amount is deposited into the merchant’s business bank account and then a percentage of their daily sales is sent to Shopify until the total owed is repaid. 

How much can I borrow with a Shopify loan?

The amount Shopify merchants can borrow from Shopify is based on the scale of their Shopify sales and their risk profile. The higher your sales and the lower your risk, the more you can borrow. However, Shopify does not recognise any sales that businesses may have on other e-commerce platforms, in brick-and-mortar stores, or from B2B activities. This means a significant percentage of merchant revenues are ignored by Shopify and therefore, Shopify loans may be smaller than some online merchants need.  

When are Shopify loans used?

Shopify loans can be used for a variety of business activities:

  • Purchasing inventory. 
  • Paying for warehouse space to store stock.
  • Paying for production space for manufacturers and artists.
  • Marketing activities.
  • Covering cashflow dips caused by B2B customers that merchants sell to away from the Shopify platform.

What does a typical Shopify loan look like?

In the US, Shopify provides funds as a merchant cash advance. How does this work?

Example of a typical Shopify merchant cash advance: 

  • Shopify advances $5000 to the merchant, for a fixed fee of $650. The total to repay is $5650 (lump sum + fee). The merchant will repay the total from their future Shopify sales and at a repayment rate of 10%. 
  • The $5000 lump sum is transferred to the merchant’s business bank account.
  • Shopify receives 10% of the merchant’s gross daily sales until the full $5,650 has been repaid. 

After the merchant repays over 25% of the loan balance, they have the option to remit the remaining balance in a single lump sum.

How to repay your Shopify loan

Shopify loans are repaid from the merchant’s sales on the platform. No matter if the loan is a merchant cash advance (UK and US), or a capital loan (US only), there is no deadline for paying off the total owed. Repayments will fluctuate in value depending on the scale of the merchant’s sales. The more they sell, the more they pay back each day and the faster they pay off the loan. If sales are slow, payments to Shopify reduce, and it takes longer to pay back the loan.

Are Shopify loans for you?

Pros

  • Flexible repayments: Based on daily sales, so payments adjust with your income.
  • No collateral: The loan is unsecured, requiring no additional collateral.
  • Quick access: Fast funding for eligible merchants.

Cons

  • Invitation only: Available only to invited merchants.
  • Limited amounts: Based solely on Shopify sales, ignoring other revenue streams.
  • Variable costs: Interest rates and fees can vary, impacting the total repayment.

What are the alternatives to a Shopify loan?

Shopify loans are available to Shopify merchants on an invitation-only basis. If they don’t ask you to apply, you can’t. This can leave some e-commerce merchants struggling to properly fund their business and missing out on trading opportunities. 

Fortunately, other lenders offer loan products for Shopify traders without needing an invitation. These  alternative loans include:

  • Merchant cash advance: Similar to Shopify’s merchant cash advance. The sum you can borrow is based on the scale of your debit and credit card sales. Most lenders will offer a lump sum based on all card sales, and not just your sales on Shopify. This means the amount you may borrow could be higher. Repayment periods may be open-ended like Shopify, or fixed, (such as 12 months). Because the card sales act as security, there is usually no need for a personal guarantee or added collateral such as real estate. Poor credit may not be an obstacle to funding.
  • Secured loan: A term loan, typically for 1 to 3 years. Paid back in monthly instalments. The borrower must provide a guarantee or collateral to protect the lender. Poor credit is usually not an obstacle.
  • Unsecured loan: A term loan, also for 1 to 3 years. Paid back in monthly instalments. No collateral required. The loan is based on the borrower’s credit score and good credit is usually required. The maximum lump sum available may be less than with a secured loan and the interest rates and fees may be higher.
  • Asset finance: Large loans used to buy bulk inventory, plant, machinery, and commercial property. Ideal for Shopify manufacturers who wish to increase production, or retailers seeking to buy bulk inventory at discounted wholesale prices. Can also pay for workspace and storage space expansion. The asset is the loan security, so no added collateral required. Poor credit is usually not an obstacle.
  • Invoice finance: Funds are lent against the value of the borrower’s accounts receivable. Suitable for traders who have B2B sales off the Shopify platform and where customers may be slow to pay. Receive up to 90% of the invoice value as soon as the bill is raised. The merchant’s invoices act as loan security. No added collateral is required, and poor credit is usually not an obstacle.
  • Revolving credit facility: Works like a bank overdraft. The borrower can dip into an open credit facility as and when funds are needed. The borrowing is repaid from incoming business receipts. Personal guarantee and/or collateral may be required, especially where the borrower’s credit is less than stellar.
  • Business credit cards: Credit cards for business use only. Often with higher credit limits and lower interest rates than cards issues to private individuals. No collateral usually required, but good credit may be necessary. 
  • Startup loan: New to Shopify? Use a startup loan to secure seed cash to get your new business off the ground. Government funds may be available for this type of loan. No added collateral is required, but good credit may be necessary.

How to use this funding to scale your Shopify business

It’s hard to stand still in business. Your organisation either grows, or it shrinks. Clearly, growth is the desired outcome, but to get bigger requires investment and many online businesses do not have the cash to fund expansion. This is where borrowing makes sense. Alternative loans can power Shopify businesses to the next level via numerous strategies:

  • Buy inventory in bulk to drive down wholesale prices and increase your profit margins. 
  • Pay suppliers sooner in exchange for invoice discount. (Ensure the discount you receive is higher than the interest rate you are paying on your borrowing).
  • Increase warehouse space to carry more stock – avoid late delivery of inventory and disappointed customers.
  • Offer short-term promotions to grow your customer base at the expense of immediate profits. Lose a little now to gain big in the mid-term.
  • Use long-term cheaper borrowing to pay off short-term, expensive debt.

How to apply for alternative Shopify funding

Before you apply for an alternative Shopify loan, make sure you have the necessary paperwork in order. Depending on the type of loan you want, the following may be requested by the lender:

  • Most recent three-years bank and tax records.
  • Cashflow forecast.
  • Credit/debit card sales details.
  • Profit and Loss Statement and recent Balance Sheet.
  • Details of any existing debt.
  • List of major customers and suppliers (if B2B).
  • List of any assets, such as property or inventory.

Top tip: Some lenders may ask for a personal guarantee by the business owners or directors to secure the loan. If they do, they will check their personal credit scores. Don’t get caught out by an error on your credit report, always check your business and personal credit scores before you apply.

How to find the best options

Finding the right alternative loan for your Shopify business can be tricky. Do you need short-term or long-term borrowing? How much can you borrow? What about interest rates, fees, personal guarantees and collateral? Getting the right funds, at the best price, with the least risk, requires finesse and review of all the options. Choice is essential – and that’s where working with a broker pays off. Whereas individual lenders may only offer a small suite of loan products, brokers such as Swoop can give you access to multiple lenders and your choice from many types of loan. 

Get started with Swoop

No matter if you’re seeking funds to cover cashflow or bulk up your inventory, Swoop has the right Shopify loan for you. Even if you’ve been turned down elsewhere, it may still be possible to secure the funds you require. Apply in just a few minutes, and funds could be in your bank account in less than 24 hours. 

Grow your online business at lightspeed. Contact Swoop to secure a Shopify loan today.

FAQs

The interest rate for Shopify credit is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the scale of the merchant’s sales on Shopify and their risk profile.

Shopify Capital offers two types of loans: merchant cash advances for both UK and US businesses, and capital loans for US businesses only.

Shopify does not specify a required credit score. Instead, loan eligibility is based on the merchant’s sales performance on Shopify and their overall risk profile.

Testimonials

Written by

Chris Godfrey

Chris is a freelance copywriter and content creator. He has been active in the marketing, advertising, and publishing industries for more than twenty-five years. Writing for Wells Fargo Bank, Visa, Experian, Ebay, Flywire, insurers and pension funds, his words have appeared online and in print to inform, entertain and explain the complex world of US consumer and business finance.

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